Farmers' protest in Punjab disrupts commuter traffic; rail and bus services have been suspended.

Life in several regions of Punjab was significantly disrupted due to a 'bandh' (shutdown) imposed by farmers who are protesting against the central government. Their main demand is for a legal guarantee of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.

Rail and road traffic were severely impacted, and many commercial establishments remained closed across the state. Farmers staged sit-ins, known as 'dharnas', on several roads as part of their bandh call, causing commuter traffic to grind to a halt.

The shutdown was announced over a week ago by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, following the government’s inaction on their demand for a legal guarantee for MSP. The bandh was observed from 7 AM to 4 PM.

Farmers held a sit-in protest at the Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, affecting vehicle movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. In Amritsar, near the Golden Gate, many farmers gathered at the city’s entry point, while dharnas were also staged in Rampura Phul, Bathinda. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher informed reporters in Amritsar that emergency and essential services would be allowed to operate during the bandh.

He emphasized that individuals traveling to the airport for a flight, attending job interviews, or going to weddings would be permitted to pass through the protests. "All establishments are closed. Punjabis have shown their unity and are extending full support today," claimed Pandher. He reported that the bandh was successful, with train services completely suspended, and no trains entering Punjab.

In Phagwara, farmers formed a dharna near the Sugarmill crossing on NH-44, blocking roads leading to Nakodar, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr. They also held a protest at the Behram toll plaza on Phagwara-Banga Road, resulting in grain markets being shut down in several areas.

Pandher noted that the strike received strong backing from transporters, employee unions, trade bodies, and religious organizations. In the Mohali district, markets were deserted, and traffic was scarce. Public transport was largely off the roads, and most private bus operators suspended services in support of the bandh. The railways canceled numerous trains scheduled to pass through the state.

The impact of the bandh also extended to neighboring areas, including Ambala. Commuters traveling from Ambala to Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala, and other nearby cities faced significant disruptions due to the shutdown. Buses took alternate routes to reach Chandigarh, resulting in crowded conditions for passengers like Sangeeta, who was waiting for a bus at Ambala Cantt to get to her workplace in Zirakpur. Many students from outside the area attending coaching centers in Chandigarh also experienced difficulties reaching their destinations.

Additionally, 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike entered its 35th day on Monday, with Dallewal having refused medical treatment thus far. Hundreds of farmers have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border, demanding a legal guarantee of MSP for crops. Dallewal has stated he will not end his fast until the government agrees to the farmers' demands.

The apex court has granted the Punjab government until December 31 to persuade Dallewal to seek medical treatment, allowing the state to request logistical support from the central government if necessary. Farmers, under the banners of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.

A group of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel from Haryana. Besides the demand for MSP, farmers are also calling for a debt waiver, pensions, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.